Herb•age Magazine - January 2020 by HerbageMagazine

Sarah Lee

Gossett Parrish Excellence. Efficiency. Integrity.

405/815-3434 slgparrish@slgparrishlaw.com www.sarahleegossettparrish.com

lawyer cannabis | litigation | oil & gas

Issue No 15 Of Oklahomaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cannabis Lifestyle/News Magazine

contents

James Bridges CEO/Publisher james@herbagemag.com Lisa Dunsmore Editor Marise Boehs Design/Creative Keegan Fry Photographer Scroll3 Media Sales/Marketing james@scroll3.com Contributors Kayla Johnson Brittney Graham Sarah Lee Gossett Parrish Chip Paul Kathy Goff Advertising 405-487-9728 james@scroll3.com

FEATURES 12

19 24

SAGE

Bud Scott, A Personal Profile Cannabinoids Brandon Rust: Chasing the Call First Cowboy Cup

EVERY ISSUE 4 5 7 8 9

Women in the industry

Sarah Lee Gossett Parrish Strainology Half Baked News Patient of the month Cooking with grass Chip Paul Ask GroMomma Pick of the month

Kimberly Campbell

Women in the industry by Kayla Johnson

wasn’t until two years later, when she encountered Amy Hildabrandt and her son, Austin, who suffers from Dravet Syndrome, that she joined the fight herself. “I saw what cannabis oil did and what they were fighting for...,” she explained, “...and they had to move to Colorado to become medical refugees, and that is when I became involved in the fight to get our community to vote.” In 2017, just before the final push for State Question (SQ) 788 began, Campbell traveled to Colorado, where she had the opportunity to train at Hippy Mountain. “I learned how to make edibles...,” she explained, “...and they taught me how to grow commercially and work on an outdoor cannabis farm.” Now, in post-SQ788 Oklahoma, Campbell is a licensed processor for Sacred Flower, the cannabis company owned and managed by herself, her husband Casey, and her best friend from childhood, Angela Brewer. Campbell and her husband purchased an acreage of land adjacent to their home of 21 years and constructed an extraction and processing facility. They received their license in August 2019, and they were able to begin product delivery on the first day of 2020. Now that their business has come to life, Campbell says that there’s just no other line of work for her. She said, “There’s no other choice for me. Cannabis medicine will always be something I’m involved in. I’ve been putting cannabis into soaps, bath bombs, ointments, topical creams and food for decades, and I knew that when we legalized cannabis, that this was something I would do, and would also do whatever it takes to make it happen.” Campbell, like many other women in the industry, has become an example of women being able to thrive in a cannabis-based career. She was invited to the National Women of Cannabis Conference in 2019, and was even one of the finalists for the Women’s Entrepreneur contest. She admits that while she has had a positive experience so far, there are also many opportunities for women to further support their fellow women in the industry. “I feel respected in my craft, and have not experienced any negativity towards me just because I’m a woman who owns a cannabis business. When you are confident in the work you do and always exhibit the highest standards, it shouldn’t make a difference if you are male or female,” she said, “I do think that there should be more support for women from other women. I’m really interested in mentorship and I would like to be involved in helping future women, in cannabis, get what they need to survive and thrive in a fast paced, and competitive market.” For those who are considering joining the cannabis industry, Campbell has some advice for women who are considering the plunge. She said, “I would say jump in with both feet, work hard, never give up on your dreams, be kind, don’t gossip, avoid drama, and don’t be the mean girl. It’s a female plant, we are females, and we all need to stick together and help each other for the betterment of all.”

People become involved in cannabis for different reasons and at different stages in their life. Some people have just discovered the benefits of the plant for the first time in their twenties, while others have been finding relief in one way or another for a few decades now. Some remain patients and consumers, while others turn their passion for cannabis into a career focused on clean med-

icine and helping people. Kimberly Campbell is one of those people. A native of Dallas, the unexpected and tragic loss of her baby brother at six months played a major role in the separation of her parents and the subsequent move to Oklahoma in 1971. Campbell shared, “We needed to be by family at that time, so we moved to Choctaw, and then in 1980, mom moved us out to Harrah as a single parent. I graduated from Harrah High, and I really had an amazing childhood with many friends that I’m fortunate to still be friends with to this day.” Campbell says that her first introduction to cannabis was a lessthan-pleasant one, though looking back, she views it differently now. She said, “My first experience was when my mom told my baby sister and I that our dad smoked pot, and now they couldn’t be married anymore. I have no doubt that he used cannabis medicinally to cope with the death of our baby brother.” Despite the taboo nature on the subject of cannabis while growing up (something most of us can relate to), Campbell admits that for her, it was an instant connection. She admitted, “It really was love at first toke for me and we smoked Mexican brick weed in high school. I even had a best friend who’s parents grew cannabis out back with their chickens, and cured and dried them in their barn. I was fifteen when I saw my first live cannabis plant, and I was 27 when I dropped my first cannabis seed into soil.” In 1995, Campbell was given the opportunity to work with Rita Holder, president of the Oklahoma Herb Society, and says her passion for growing really began to take root. She said, “I had always been an earth seed, so I started taking online herbal courses from the California School of Herbalism, then in 2007, I received a degree in horticulture from Oklahoma State University.” By the time 2012 rolled around, the possibility of medical legalization was first becoming a rumor to be whispered about in hushed voices. Campbell says that year she began growing, saying, “I dove into growing and formulating topicals and edibles.” It

An Overview of 2019 Cannabis Milestones

BY: SARAH LEE GOSSETT PARRISH, CANNABIS LAWYER1 The year 2019 saw a plethora of milestones in Oklahoma’s MedOther Milestones ical Marijuana Program and in the cannabis sector nationwide. In There were other milestones, federal and state, worth mentionlooking forward to this year and a new decade, it is important to ing. In September 2019, the United States House of Representatives take stock of battles won and lost on the fields of green. passed the Secure and Fair Enforcement (“SAFE”) Banking Act by a 321 to 103 vote that reflected bipartisan support—a rarity these days. Oklahoma Milestones The SAFE Banking Act’s passage by the House represents the first In Oklahoma, 2019 was a year of continued firsts in the cannabis major cannabis reform legislation to achieve a vote nationally. sector. The Oklahoma Legislature enacted legislation codifying Two months later, the House Judiciary Committee voted in favor the state’s medical marijuana program and the Oklahoma Medical of the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement Marijuana Authority (“OMMA”) took steps to implement statutory (“MORE”) Act, the first piece of federal legislation calling for remodifications to the program.2 Last year brought stricter residency moval of marijuana from the controlled substances list that actually requirements for licensees, additional licenses such as waste disposreached part of Congress for a vote—clearly a seminal event. The al, laboratory, transport agent, and short-term medical marijuana MORE Act also dictates review and possible expungement of cannapatient licenses. It also saw unsuccessful attempts to place the quesbis possession and consumption convictions, something the states tion of adult use on the ballot—an issue that no doubt will resurface are now undertaking.3 later this year. At least 26 states now have enacted some type of marijuana deThe first OMMA commercial licensees filed for renewals in 2019 criminalization. In 2019, New Mexico passed a cannabis decriminaland applications brought additional requirements such as certificates ization bill to treat possession of up to half an ounce with a $50 fine. of compliance and expanded definitions of the term “ownership Hawaii allowed modest decriminalization, removing incarceration interest” in business entities seeking licenses and renewals. Seedas a punishment for possession of three grams or less. North Dakota to-sale inventory tracking and the first testing regulations brought passed legislation removing the threat of jail time for first-time stricter standards to our industry, and changes in packaging and offenders caught possessing half an ounce or less, making them labeling requirements added new meaning to the term “compliance”. subject to a fine of $1000 or less. Oklahoma’s cannabis businesses still operate within a sea of gray and Thus, 2019 brought clear recognition of Gallup’s 2018 and 2019 it is not diminishing yet. Perhaps there is no better evidence of this polls showing approximately two-thirds of Americans favor legalfact than the caveat that now appears on OMMA’s website just above ization. In fact, an end of year CBS News Poll reflects support for the current rules, advising readers to consult an attorney if they have legal weed achieved a new high, with 65% of all U.S. adults in favor questions about the proper interpretation and application of same. of legalization. Even among seniors, the CBS poll showed that the That said, expect to see OMMA’s enactment of permanent rules majority favored legalization. in the summer of 2020, along with a set of testing rules and regulaAdditional state milestones in 2019 include the following. Illinois tions that establish more particular and specific requirements in this legalized adult use at the legislative level, becoming the eleventh arena, along with licensing of laboratories to test medical marijuana. state (on January 1, 2020 when the law became effective) to legalize More Oklahomans will no doubt apply for patient licenses and, if adult usage. The other ten states are Alaska, California, Coloraour Legislature cooperates, then Oklahoma will remain the only free do, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, enterprise medical marijuana system in the country—a fact that will Washington and the District of Columbia. New York, New Mexico, ensure continued interest in our medical marijuana program. and Minnesota are expected to go fully legal in 2020. And why not? Oregon’s Portland Mercury Blogtown post of November 25, 2019, State revenues from legal marijuana continue to multiply. Over opines that “[t]he details and numbers of [Oklahoma’s] medical pro- the summer of 2019, Colorado passed the $1 billion mark in total gram are astonishing when you consider the hot bed of conservative revenue from the legal marijuana industry and Oklahoma is posting beliefs and religion which runs deep through the state….In the 10 significant gains with each passing month. months of data collected for 2019, it reveals a medical program with numbers which would be the envy of any recreational program.” The What’s the Take-Away? post notes that we are “the largest MMJ program in the US. Sales are Currently, 47 of the 50 states have legalized marijuana in some expected to top $350 million by the end of the year, with analysts form. This new year will bring new reforms, new regulations, and, predicting that number potentially doubling as the market matures.” given that we are now in an election year, more attention to the nonSignificantly, the post recognizes that “credit for this success is due sensical reality that the federal government is out of sync with the to the state, which created a program seemingly designed to actumajority of Americans and their state laws on this issue. So… ally help both the patients, and the people serving them.” Indeed, Stay tuned. It’s going to be a wild ride, and not just here in the Wild, OMMA and the State of Oklahoma deserve much of the credit for Wild West of Oklahoma. our successful medical marijuana program here. However, so do the 1 Information contained herein provides general information related to the law and citizens, the business owners, ancillary businesses in the cannabis does not provide legal advice. It is recommended that readers consult their personal space, and the patients themselves. If we all continue to work tolawyer if they want legal advice. No attorney-client or confidential relationship exists gether, a year from now I will be writing about even more significant or is formed between you and Ms. Parrish as a result of this article. 2 For detailed information on these legislative enactments, please see my article in cannabis milestones in our state, and how Oklahoma continues to last month’s issue of Herb-Age magazine, titled “OMMA’s New Rules Create Uncerlead the way in the medical marijuana space. I have every reason to tainties”. believe this will be the case. 3 Should the House of Representatives pass the MORE Act, it likely will die on Senate arrival, just as the SAFE Banking Act did.

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Strainology Aries: There is so much for you to look forward to this year and a lot of it will begin this month dear Aries. There are a lot of areas in your life set to improve, and things will fall strangely into place! Stay happy and levelheaded during all of this amazingness with the hybrid Banana Split. Taurus: You are feeling the good vibrations of the year ahead, and you are super excited about all of your New Year’s resolutions. Keep that energy Taurus, do not let cynical people around you bring you down. Stay relaxed and happy all of January with the Indica GMO Cookies. Gemini: The main thing you need to keep in mind this month dear Gemini, is that this is your ship, and you are the captain at the steering wheel. Create a strong plan, keep dreaming, and believe in yourself. Get some rest so you can be ready for your adventure by grabbing the hybrid OGKB A.K.A OG Kush Breath. Cancer: Your New Year’s resolutions list might be about breaking old habits or creating new healthier ones. However, be sure to add your passions to that list dear Cancer, and do some things for you too! Stay uplifted and energetic during all of this list making with the hybrid Gelato #33. Leo: You have left a big impression and didn’t even realize it dear Leo. This could lead to an interesting job offer or exciting social development beginning this month. Allow yourself some stressfree time to daydream about your future with the hybrid Grease Monkey. Virgo: You should ﬁnd that your family relationships are becoming warm and enjoyable this month. All the while you will be feeling your independence more and more dear Virgo. Stay engaged and active while having the energy to balance both with the hybrid Golden Pineapple. Libra: January holds a time for you to look for the purpose behind a recent mistake and the beneﬁt of what happened dear Libra. Punishing yourself is pointless simply put. Stay relaxed and less stressed during this process by grabbing the hybrid Original Glue, formally known as GG4.

Your January 2020 horoscope and what cannabis strain will help you get through it! It is the beginning of a decade, see what the universe has in store for your sign below. Remember, these are based on your sun signs! by Brittney Graham Scorpio: This month it is wise to keep your goals under wraps for the time being. Someone close to you might not understand your need to get involved, but once they see how happy this goal makes you, they will be all in. Stay balanced while you achieve your goals by grabbing the Hybrid Black Cherry Soda. Sagittarius: You might feel as though your charm and allure are off the charts this months dear Sagittarius, and you are right! Ride this wave and show off some of your best talents while you surf! Stay uplifted and euphoric during this exciting time with the Sativa White Buﬀalo. Capricorn: This month will have you contemplating on doing something risky to gain something. Remember, you can be innovative without going to extremes. Listen to your friends and loved ones this month Capricorn, when it comes to this issue. Stay relaxed and sitting still long enough to listen to this good advice by grabbing the Indica Star Killer. Aquarius: You have a ton of ideas running through your head when it comes to your career goals this month. It would be wise to put your focus on only a select few to give them the time they deserve dear Aquarius. Calm all those ideas bouncing around with the Aurora Indica. Pisces: Turn on that legendary charm to check off that New Year’s resolution list starting this month dear Pisces. To escape the January hum drums you might want to go on one of your infamous adventures to clear your mind. Stay relaxed on your journey with the Indica Bubba’s Gift.

Half Baked News Cannabis News and Trending Topics by Brittney Graham

Big money for Illinois

Cannabis became legal on New Year’s Day in Illinois and it was big money to say the least. CBS News reported that 37 state dispensaries made 77,128 transactions the first day of legalization. This translates to over $3.17 million is sales and woah can you say green on green?

They sold so much that dispensaries ran out of product! Fun fact, one of those transactions was none other than the Lt. Governor of Illinois herself, Juliana Stratton. Now, that is a supportive state government right there!

Can You Say Cannabis Rosé?

In the last few months, three California wine companies have released nonalcoholic, cannabis-infused rosés: the women-centric brands are House of Saka, Viv & Oak, and the stoner-friendly Rebel Coast. They promise less attention than smoking and more control over dosage than an edible. The 5 to 10mg THC per serving of the cannabis rosés create a gentle buzz that

comes from a couple glasses of wine; which has been hard to find in cannabis edibles. I am interested to see just how far this trend catches on. A nice little medicated pink drink sounds lovely, doesn’t it? It is safe to say, I will be on the look out for this in Oklahoma, and I will let you know what I find.

Nice End of Year Stats Oklahoma! Overall, we have generated $18.1

2019 was a big year for the Oklahoma cannabis community, and since SQ788 passed, we have been making waves!

application fees,

By November of last year, 5%

million in

of Oklahomans had a medical cannabis card and in the

along with $3 recent data.

state officials approved more

To this we say, you’re doing fine Oklahoma, well more than fine, and you know you want to sing it now!

same period,

than 1,400 dispensaries and 3,000 growers.

million in taxes, according to

Patient of the month by Kayla Johnson

Since the passage of State Question 788, thousands and thousands of lives across the state of Oklahoma have changed. Some found freedom through a new career that they are passionate about, while many others found a new type of freedom from their medical conditions and injuries. They are able to enjoy life again thanks to cannabis and the medical program that brought it to Oklahoma. Jennifer Cunningham is one of those patients who credits cannabis with setting her free. A native of McAlester, she moved to Hammon, a town in western Oklahoma with her family around the age of ten. She says that her experience with cannabis has been completely life changing, though she credits her upbringing with her longtime attitude towards cannabis. “My opinion hasn’t really ever changed in life. I’ve always been pro-cannabis, my family was pro-cannabis..I grew up in a house where my parents used it. It is just one of those things that’s been around.” Now as an adult, Cunningham faces a wide range of medical conditions, and says cannabis plays a big role in how she handles them. “I have lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis (R.A.), chronic pain, depression and anxiety. It is a pretty wide range of things that I use cannabis to treat, and it helps them all.” Like many patients in the state, Cunningham is anything but shy about her cannabis use. She encourages others to stop feeling any shame that may linger over their use. “It saved my life, and I’m completely open with anyone. I’m not ashamed that I use cannabis, and if you’re legal, you’re legal. I can’t understand why anyone would feel shame for it now.” Beyond her appreciation for what the plant has done for her medically, Cunningham is just as passionate about helping other patients find what will work for them. She believes in the power of educating one’s self as much as possible in order to be able to help share that information with others: “I love to help people. I can walk into any dispensary, and even if I don’t know you or if it’s my first time in that dispensary, I want to help you. If I see you struggling with something and I either know the answer or know where

you can find it, I’m going to speak up and give you as much information as I can about it,” Cunningham said. “I’m a sponge because I absorb everything that I can and I read as much as possible; that kind of passion is important. This industry can only keep growing when you have people that are inspired to help, rather than focusing on making money.” As with many patients, Cunningham is working to turn her passion for the plant into a career, and says her experience so far gives her hope for finding the right position within the industry. “I am involved as much as I can be. My father owns a grow house, and I’ve helped with a few different dispensaries and grows. I’m really eager to learn, and I genuinely just want to help people find the medicine that works for them. It’s not about the money. It is about getting people to feel better.” For those who are still feeling a bit on the anxious side about trying cannabis for their health needs, Cunningham’s advice is simple, “Just try it. Go into a dispensary and talk to them about it. Don’t be afraid to try things, and don’t be afraid to say no, too.” She also encouraged people to shake off the lingering shame that they might feel. She said, “Cannabis has been legalized in the state of Oklahoma for medical use; it’s safe to consume, you aren’t breaking the law, and you can’t lose everything because of your choice of medicine now.” While she pushed for people to break away from the old shame, she also made a bold offer. She said, “If you don’t know anyone who knows about cannabis, or if you’re not comfortable talking to people in your life about it, contact me. My name is Jennifer Cunningham on Facebook, and I can be reached on Instagram as well, @Smokinred4.2.0. I don’t mind answering questions at all, and if I don’t know the answer, I’ll point you in the right direction to find it. Everyone should be able to have someone to discuss cannabis with, especially when they’re new to it, and I just want to help people get help.”

Cooking with grass by Kayla Johnson

Congratulations my fellow Oklahomans, we survived another holiday season! Whether you went dashing all the way through New Year’s Eve, or hobbled through the holidays, it’s been a mad rush. Now that it’s back to daily life for most people, many find during the first few weeks of the new year, that they feel a little run down or maybe even a bit under the weather. Inﬂuenza (Flu) cases are popping up across the state and it’s important to take care of yourself. While cooking is often the last thing people want to do after the holidays, something simple and hearty, like the cannabis-infused chicken tortilla soup can be an easy meal with a medicated and slightly spicy boost for when you are feeling worn thin. The cannabis kicked the soup offers will vary based on the potency of your cannabutter or oil, whichever you prefer to use, and if you’re concerned about adding too much, simply combine your infused butter or oil with pure butter or oil, to make a less-potent dose in the proper amount needed for the recipe. If you’re fighting a head cold or for any reason simply don’t want to inhale your medicine, some-

thing like this soup can be a comforting way to get good food and good medicine down the hatch. For patients who may be a little more sensitive to spicy foods, free to dial this back as much as you need, or even try changing up the ﬂavors if you’d prefer, and if you’re really looking for a way to make this a speedy meal, simply grab a rotisserie chicken to use. As always, it’s important to remember to make sure your infused creation is properly labeled and stored separate from the non-infused goodness in your kitchen, to prevent any potential mixups. and stored separate from the non-infused goodness in your kitchen, to prevent any potential mixups.

Chicken Tortilla Soup Ingredients: 2 whole chicken breast (can use rotisserie chicken) 2 cloves of garlic 2 boxes of chicken stock (low sodium if you prefer) 1 Spanish onion 2 15 oz cans of black beans, drained 1 10 oz can of Rotel (mild, but use what you prefer!) 1 red bell pepper ½ green bell pepper 3 C hot water 3 TBSP cannabis infused butter or oil 3 TBSP tomato paste 1 ½ TSP cumin 1 ½ TSP chili powder 1 TSP garlic powder Whole tortillas (to be cut into strips, can use tortilla chips if preferred) Salt/Pepper to taste Instructions: 1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. *Note, if you’re using rotisserie chicken, feel free to forgo the first several steps, and pick up on Step 9. 2. Take a small bowl and mix cumin, garlic powder, black pepper, chili powder, and salt in it. 3. Take chicken breasts and drizzle them with 1 tablespoon of cannabis-infused olive oil. 4. Then, sprinkle the chicken with the spice mix from the small bowl. A tip here: Do not

forget to do this on the both sides of the chicken. 5. Keep the rest of the spice mix aside. 6. Put the spiced and greased chicken breasts on a baking sheet. 7. Put the baking sheet into the oven for 20-25 minutes. A tip here: You should make sure the chicken is cooked thoroughly. 8. Once the chicken is ready, remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the chicken breasts cool down. 9. Meanwhile, dice Spanish onion, red bell pepper, and half of green bell pepper. 10. Mince garlic. 11. Take a large pot and pour 2 tablespoons of cannabis-infused olive oil into it. 12. Place the pot on the stove and turn on medium heat. 13. Once the oil is preheated, add the diced onion, red and green pepper, and minced garlic. 14. Stir the mixture and add salt and pepper to taste. 15. Shred the cooled off chicken breasts into long and thin strips. 16. Once the bell peppers get soft and onion translucent, add the shredded chicken. A tip here: It usually takes about 5 minutes to cook the vegetables. 17. Stir the mixture well. 18. Add the “Rotel” tomatoes and chilies, chicken stock, tomato paste, black beans, and water to the vegetable and chicken mixture. 19. Bring the mixture to a boil. 20. Then, reduce the heat and let the mixture

simmer for 45 minutes. A tip here: Do not cover the pot. 21. Take whole corn tortillas and cut them into uniform strips of about 2 inches. Put them aside. 22. Simmer the soup for 30 more minutes. A tip here: Do not forget to stir the soup occasionally. 23. Then, taste the soup and add some chili powder or salt if necessary. 24. Remove the soup from heat and let it sit for 5 minutes. 25. Add the tortillas strips to the soup and let it sit for 5 more minutes. 26. Ladle the soup into the bowls and top each serving with the garnish you have prepared beforehand. Enjoy!

From the Front Lines

The Oklahoma Medical Cannabis Movement

by Chip Paul

As I am writing this SQ806 has just been withdrawn and re-issued as SQ807 for our consideration. This petition effort, if successful, would legalize recreational marijuana here in Oklahoma. I think we are all asking ourselves if this is a good idea in Oklahoma at this time. I think not, and here is why. If you are a patient or a com-

mercial marijuana business owner, it would seem that adult use or recreational marijuana would be a good thing. That we would see an increase in tax money or have an increase in business just like what we saw in a state like Colorado. Well, let’s consider Colorado. They had a medical program that eventually went to an adult use marijuana program. At the time, less than 3% of Colorado’s population could access the States medical marijuana program. The medical marijuana program had “conditions” so it was not “open” to all Colorado residents. When Colorado passed and implemented adult use marijuana, it opened the market to many many Colorado residents who could not access marijuana under the medical marijuana program. In fact this is the case in EVERY SINGLE state that has passed an adult use program. In all of those states the passing of adult use OPENED the market to residents of that state which did not have access before. Here in Oklahoma, our medical

marijuana program is OPEN to all Oklahoma residents. Our medical marijuana program is very unique and like no other medical marijuana program in the country. Anyone can access the program. So how would adult use benefits Oklahomans? Certainly not by opening access to residents. While it might benefit border dispensaries with an increase in out of state business, it certainly would not help existing patients. We have the most unique and liberal medical marijuana law in the country. We, as Oklahomans, have clearly embraced it. Did you know well over 5% of our population are now patients? That is spectacular! We have a LONG WAY to go just to get our medical program right and proper. Let’s focus on that for a few years, then make a decision on adult use. If that is something we all want, then lets work with lawmakers, the OMMA, non profits, and the marijuana business community to work on a proper adult use program.

Sage Farms by Brittney Graham

through the phone. Not to mention the compassion he has for the community and the love he has for all plants. The cannabis grow itself started out hydroponic as that is how the produce had been grown before it. However, living soil is their medium of choice for 80% of the medical cannabis plants at Sage Farms now and 20% of the cannabis is in a Dutch pot hydro medium, as their motto is all about staying organic. And honestly, who wants to argue with that? Not me. I, of course, had to take this opportunity to ask what kind of strains happen to be growing in a space that holds great potential. Ben had a chuckle at this since they are currently growing around 20 different strains. Some of those include OG Kush, Blueberry, and Mamba Negra however another percentage of those are ones that Sage Farms breeds themselves. Every grower loves a good Pheno hunt and I know I am not just speaking for myself when I say we are excited to see what strains come from this farm! When it comes to growing cannabis as opposed to produce, there are similarities and differences all in the

Growing cannabis is new for the state of Oklahoma, growing other crops on the other hand, not so much. Ben Neal founded Sage Farms back in 2014 as a produce farm. After seeing the potential of aeroponic growing and how he could contribute to his community, he designed and manufactured a commercial growing system in 26,000 sq ft of greenhouse space. After the passing of SQ788 in 2018, Sage Farms added medical cannabis to their crop list. I had the opportunity to chat with Ben about his farm and I could hear the knowledge and excitement of it all

same. When I asked Ben about this, he handed down this bit of grower’s knowledge; “You’re always fighting little battles. It is similar, but cannabis has an extra splash of complexities. When it comes to the bud- it can trap moisture, you can get bugs in there, and sometimes there isn’t a whole lot of coming back from it.” With that being said, anticipated and unanticipated grow challenges have been just that- challenges. Sustaining the plant using

living soil is one way to approach such hurdles. Sage Farms itself is splitting into two brands, essentially. One is the farm itself and will focus on growing the cannabis plant. The other brand is handling the processing side - it will be product-focused and is called STERLING CANNABIS COMPANY. And let me just tell you, their products are mouthwatering!

Take a look at some of their new offers Micro-dose Mints: Also known as “The less stress micro-dose mint”. These babies are peppermint flavored mints that have very low amounts of THC but are amazing for discreet micro-dosing. They can be used with headaches, hangovers, or honestly any pain relief! The benefit of micro-dosing is being able to tailor the dosage amounts to your particular need by taking one, two, or three - you decide! Of course, taking multiples at a time will give you more of a high and less of a micro-dose, so it is recommended to take one at a time. • Cannabis-infused Olive Oil: Cooking clean and sugar free? Not to mention the lovely relaxed stress free “good night’s sleep” awaiting after ingestion. Sign me up -this stuff is incredible! • RSO (Rick Simpson Oil): We already discussed just how organic Sage Farms is, so you can see how excited one might be to find that Sterling Cannabis Company has released patient quality Rick Simpson Oil for those that need that extra shot of healing. • Shatter: This shatter is like actual glass! None of that “clump” that some of us have been seeing on the shelf this stuff is pure quality!

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~ Bud Scott ~ a Personal Profile by Kayla Johnson

The cannabis industry, whether medical or recreational, promotes itself as a fairly united front, and for the most part, it is; we’re all Team Green here, right? As tightly knit as the industry and community can be, it’s not uncommon for patients, businesses, and even advocates to butt heads in one way or another over different issues involving cannabis. The majority of people who make up the cannabis community and industry are all, in their own way and with their own opinions, passionate about cannabis and protecting the rights of patients. There is a lot at stake for everyone involved. Like any family, however, people don’t always agree with how things should be handled, and unfortunately, it can even become downright unpleasant at times. If you have had an opinion or view on any of the laws or regulations in the last year and a half, especially if it has been shared on social media or any other outlet, I’ll venture a guess that you have probably experienced similar disagreements. Controversy is something easily

acquired these days, even in the cannabis world, and once it is attached to your name, for good or ill, it can be hard to shake free from. Bud Scott, the executive director at the Oklahoma Cannabis Industry Association (OCIA) and attorney at Oklahoma Progress, PLLC., has some experience with controversial issues related to cannabis. A graduate of Oklahoma University and University of Kansas Law School, he cut his cannabis teeth in Amsterdam’s industry while traveling abroad. Scott found himself swimming in controversy and notoriety during the efforts to pass House Bill 2612, better known by most as the Unity Bill. Some patients and businesses believed the bill imposed too many regulations on a still fledgling industry and they disliked the call for a special legislative session. At the same time, others pushed the concept that Scott, a native of Enid who graduated from Tulsa High School, was a corporate lobbyist from out-of-state who was vehemently against the patients

and their rights. Scott founded the OCIA under the name, New Health Solutions, Inc., in order to bring businesses together to help fund and manage the “Vote Yes on StateQuestion (SQ) 788” campaign in 2017. He first became involved in regulatory efforts shortly before the vote in June 2018; working to help SQ788 hit the ground running: “I was working at the legislature for almost the entire legislative session, basically since February of that year, and we had a gargantuan task. We were trying to take what we saw as the best features of regulatory programs of other states, and creating a bill that included things like ‘seed to sale’, and things that we knew were going to happen,” Scott said. “There was no way the legislation was not going to have things like seed to sale, inventory tracking, or testing; which are all components that any regulatory program is going to have. We tried to get them in place with the idea that once the state question passed,

boom, we’d have a program in place.” Despite the amount of work that was poured into the four hundred plus pages, the senate leadership never worked to advance this bit of legislation; yet the need for regulation was clear early on. It came down to a call for a special legislative session, including a thirty minute press conference from Scott and New Health Solutions, INC. in July of 2018. They sparked the movement needed to keep new businesses and cardholders legally in the green. There was concern regarding just how these then-unknown regulations would be enforced when finally put in place: “People had no guidance, businesses and patients alike, and had no idea what was going to be expected of them and for such as things like building code compliance. They were not prepared for what was guaranteed to be coming down the pipe,” Scott said. “Since there was our proposal, and another group had popped up with their own proposal to offer, the legislature told us to put together a unified position. I hosted representatives from those different groups at our offices. Together, we basically just amended the legislative proposal that I had previously drafted. We took some of the stuff we liked, some of the stuff we didn’t, and pulled it into a more cohesive proposal that became known as the Unity Bill.” Though he recognizes the success of coming together as a community and industry to push regulations to the legislature, Scott admits that the bill was not as it could have been: “It was a comprehensive proposal originally, that tied in all these different facets, and when you start taking things out, you begin to really lose that framework that helps certain aspects of it be successful,” he said. “There were some good things in there, some necessary things, but then there were some changes that were made. Obviously, there’s always going to be compromises that have to be made at the legislature to even get it through, but we were able to push 2612 through.” Even with that success, however, came the backlash, and for Scott, it seemed to

stem from one key moment: “When we called for that special legislative session, there were many reasons why we did that. We knew what state agencies wanted to do, and we knew what areas they wanted to address, to improve or attack, within the program. We decided to try and just get to the heart of the matter and to really protect this program. That is when we decided to host that press conference,” he said. “We knew from interagency memos that law enforcement was pushing really hard to get rid of home grow. They didn’t like the lack of regulation on the personal grow component, and we knew it was going to be an issue. One thing I said during that press conference was ‘possible registration of home grows’”. It was that phrase, he believes, that brought down a wave of outrage, anger, and outright aggression.: “I’ve got a pretty thick skin. It just comes with the industry I’m in, but I’ll tell you, that whole experience was one of the worst experiences I have ever had,” Scott said. “People were outright lying about who I am, who I represent, and what I do for a living. It was stuff that a simple Google search could clear up. Others can whitewash, but it was a directed assault and it was a direct attempt to tear me down and discredit me.”

For Scott, who now also serves on the Medical Marijuana Authority Food Safety Standards Board, the frustration ran deep and in the heat of the moment. Less than a year earlier, he had been working to help manage and fund the SQ788 campaign, and almost immediately after that press conference, his character and business practices were picked apart by some: “People were spewing these false facts about how I was completely against the patients, and only looking to pad my own pockets with corporate interests,” he said. “I am not a rich man and I have basically spent my entire career working on public interest campaigns. I am just a basic lawyer from my own small practice. You don’t get rich representing local farmers. It is a labor of love for sure. The worst part of this was to have my career and my character completely impugned with falsehoods when the truth, about who I am and what I do, is easily accessible.” For Scott, the wave of disdain he was forced to ride out underlines a deeper issue; one reflected both within the cannabis industry, and society as a whole: “It is not just unique to the cannabis world. Obviously it is pretty endemic in our culture right now. People just jump to conclusions and are really pretty vile to each other, and with no regards to the truth, or how it actually impacts other

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people. It is just shocking,” Scott said. “While it is not unique to our community, I do think it is becoming pretty bad within this industry. One example: if there is a legislature that doesn’t agree with something, they are villainized, and memes are made out of them. They are out to get everybody. I wish that component of this would disappear, because it is extremely problematic.” Anyone who has been involved in any kind of argument or disagreement, and has been dragged through the virtual mud of social media for any reason, can relate to the frustration Scott says he felt, but there was a key component that made it especially upsetting: “It is disappointing because this sludge of drama really did impact our momentum with the medical industry, ...there are still people out there who persist in putting out this same kind of misinformation about me,” he said. “It is distracting, and it has happened again with the new State Question 806. My name is being attached to things that I have absolutely nothing to do with..” In fact, Scott says he met with the people behind the bill to discuss the possibility of him joining the campaign. He also shared his concerns about the bill directly with them. “I gave them a lot of ideas and my main concern was the fact that I didn’t think the bill would be successful. Consider how much work we have to do with the legislature and the agencies, it would be a distraction.” In spite of his own personal support of adult use legalization, sharing his concerns and input about the bill was the end of his involvement with the bill; which has been filed, withdrawn, and refiled in relatively short order. Even with his lack of involvement, Scott’s name is still being attached to the project as misinformation continues to circulate. Though he has faced down his fair share of controversy by now, Scott says his passion for the plant and the people behind it remains the same. “I’m a patient myself, I’ve always enjoyed cannabis, but now with the back issues I have, I like my tinctures just as much as smoking. I wouldn’t have run the campaign or be so dedicated to this industry if it weren’t for my beliefs, and witnessing for myself, the medical benefits.” Like many other “regular” patients, he’s been open with his family about his use. Luckily, many members of his family are patients as well, and his teenage daughter has been able to understand how much it helps him. “She’s 15, and we’ve been able to have some really mature conversations about how it is medicine, and how it helps people.” In spite of the incredibly negative backlash he faced within the cannabis industry and community, Scott said the experience has not been entirely anger-based or negative. “There are those components that are trying to drag everyone down into the muck. There are also a lot of professionals in this industry, a lot of people who are rational, and business-focused, who understand what we were trying to accomplish and appreciate us for it and that is what I choose to focus on.”

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Getting to Know Your Cannabinoids by Brittney Graham

As we continue on with our Cannabinoid spotlight series, I think it is the perfect time to introduce CBDA, also known as Cannabidiolic Acid. You might better know this compound as CBD (cannabidiol) since that is what it turns into over time and when exposed to heat. Along that train of thought, CBDA is abundant in the live plants of CBD varieties. CBGA (cannabigerolic acid) also known as the mothership cannabinoid, was covered in our first spotlight of the series. This is where we learned that it converts into three major cannabinoid precursor compounds, depending on which plant enzymes are activated to direct synthesis. One of these such precursors is in fact, none other than CBDA. You can typically find CBDA in capsules, tinctures, topicals, and raw cannabis juices, but what makes this compound so beneficial? While we have learned that most cannabinoids bind directly with either the CB1 or CB2 receptors, CBDA doesn’t really work that way. Instead, it interacts with the endocannabinoid system by inhibiting the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme. Before you go cross eyed with all the science lingo like I did, let me break

this down. COX-2 enzymes are associated with inflammation after injury or infection, so by blocking these enzymes, CBDA can relieve inflammation associated with pain! So, the next time you are feeling a little sore after a work out or injury, grab some CBDA and thank me later! In a recent rodent study, scientists have demonstrated that CBDA can affect the body’s serotonin receptors, hinting at the potential use for CBDA as a medication for chemotherapy patients. This is due to the nausea induced by the chemotherapy itself; however, this study is in the very beginning stages and can’t be officially noted as beneficial in this area yet.

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Brandon Rust

Chasing the Call of Cannabis, No Matter Where it Takes You by Brittney Graham

Brandon Rust, owner of Majestic Craft Cannabis and Bokashi Earth Works, has a life that sounds like it was written by Hollywood. I am so excited that I had the opportunity to speak with him about his experience with Cannabis and the lessons it has taught him in his life. I am sure you will see, as I have, that this California transplant has a lot to offer our local community. Back in early 2000, Brandon was working in landscaping with a few of his father’s friends. Once he had been working for them a while, they decided that he could be trusted and took him on one wild ride! One day after work he was blind folded, put in the back of a van, and taken to the place that would change his life forever, a cannabis cultivation. Once he worked his way up in cultivation, he was able to split off and try it with his own hands. Around 2003 Brandon and his grow partner were growing in Southern California working with the infamous Afghan Bull Rider strain. This went pretty well for some time until around 2006, when he was betrayed by someone close to him. His fiancé, at the time, was having an affair with a police officer. This not only equaled heartbreak for Brandon but also prison time, 16 months to be exact. He didn’t let this detour him away from his passion for Cannabis; however, it only strengthened it. This wasn’t the only prison term that he received from his passion. In 2017 Brandon started another 18-month prison term, this time for making BHO or dabs to be frank. He started making a lot of concentrates and after about a year, he moved to another area which proved to be more drama for him. The landlord was the property owner’s son, and that son had gotten into it with a tenant in a trailer on the property; which resulted in the police showing up to Brandon’s door with questions. The police left and a couple of hours later he and his girl-

friend were detained. When he was released from his second term, Brandon landed on his feet. He got himself a couple of jobs and as soon as he was legally able to cultivate again, he took the opportunity. Being able to pursue his passion again seemed to make the steps it took to get there all worth it. So, let’s talk about his cultivation, shall we? Brandon grew hydro for about 9 years and then switched to a soil medium. He did this switch because there are multiple points of failure with hydro, such as AC fails or pump malfunctions. “There are so many moving parts one failure

nutrients if there is a more cost-effective method? So, what does he do? He switched everything out one day and in the end, he is so happy that he did; however, it is important to note that the first time was not very successful. It was at this point Brandon realized fast, that he was going to have to reeducate himself completely, because the methods and the way he understood how plants absorbed nutrients were so basic. He learned how it cycled, how to make things more bio available, and how adding more microbes at certain times has an apogeic effect on plant morphol-

“Soil is a little more forgiving, like if the AC fails as long as the medium stays moist you should be good.” Brandon Rust Majestic Craft Cannabis & Bokashi Earth Works

and it all goes down,” he explained. For example, he killed more than half of his crop at one point in his hydro grow, and that was the straw that broke the camel’s back. He then effectively switched up his grow medium to soil with fertigation salts. “Soil is a little more forgiving, like if the AC fails as long as the medium stays moist you should be good,” Brandon further explained. He used different mixes: fox farm, 707, etc. and the last nutrient line was house and garden with soil. He was adamant that he was always diligent with reading labels and realized that most of the products were trying to mimic what organic or mother nature does. The cost was also starting to stack up, so he decided to look into natural alternatives. A lot of the products Brandon purchased were being made from organic sources that were extremely cheap. Why pay thousands a month on

ogy. He was so excited when talking about this especially, that he exclaimed, “You can affect the potential of the plant … you can get certain nutrients from the soil into the plant with help from solutions!” At this point, Brandon bought botany books, learned about Korean natural farming and bokashi, and not to focus on the plant but the health of the soil. He now takes a holistic approach to the soil because it is living energy, and making everything available to the soil. He even wants to use what he has learned to help Oklahoma Farmers in the form of Green Recycling. It would involve the process of taking non-growable soil and healing it so it can be used for fresh crops again. Since he has found himself here, he wants to give back to the Cannabis community as well as the local community of Oklahoma. I couldn’t help but feel his adopted Okie Spirit!

This month we will continue to focus on indoor growing. Before starting your cannabis grow, you must decide what kind of an indoor growing system you want to use. Will you grow your plants in water, soil or a combo? One type of hydroponic growing is growing a plant’s roots in a tub of water. Roots grown in water do not need to expend energy to search for the nutrients the plant needs; nutrients are easily accessible by the roots. Since the plant is spending less energy finding what it needs to grow, it channels that energy to plant growth. A bubbler bucket reservoir is a simple system that suspends the plant’s roots in a highly oxygenated nutrient solution. Plants have an unlimited supply of oxygen because of the air-stone in the tub/reservoir. The roots are submerged in the oxygenated nutrient-water solution in the bucket which is replenished regularly. The most important growing tip is to check your cannabis plants daily. As with many processes, it is easiest to fix a problem in the beginning stages! If something is wrong with your plant in a hydroponic system, your first step is to change out the reservoir. It is common for root rot to occur when roots are consistently in water and poorly oxygenated. It is imperative to establish a preventative routine of changing out the reservoir every seven days. Keeping air and water temperatures under control are also very important. Air temperature should be 75-85°F when the lights are on, and will drop by 10 degrees when the lights are off. Water temperature should remain at a constant temperature at all times. Too many plants in one reservoir can lead to problems, such as white powdery mildew. Don’t cramp your plants, instead, grow one plant per reservoir. This will allow the roots to spread out and give the leaves and buds more space to grow. CoCo Coir is another great growing method, especially for beginners. It provides the ease of soil gardening, with the rapid growth of hydroponics, by using fibrous coconut husks instead of a potting mix. Compared to soil growing, the lighter texture of CoCo Coir absorbs moisture much easier, and allows plants to take up more nutrients and retain oxygen more efficiently. It also

dries out more quickly than soil, so be aware. Good quality coco coir is important for successful root development. It is recommended that beginner growers use a three-to-one coco to perlite mixture because it requires less frequent watering. Perlite is a mined mineral that creates small spaces of air in the coco coir to prevent overwatering. It also provides more oxygen to the roots. Cannabis roots love oxygen and perlite lets them get it while the coco coir makes sure the roots always stay wet. Finally, growing cannabis in soil is a system that requires any kind of good quality potting soil. It is also best to avoid any soil with artificial extended release fertilizer or other chemicals. I use Fox Farm Ocean Forest potting soil. It contains lots of nutrients, so you won’t need to add any additional nutrients for the first couple of weeks. If you keep re-potting the cannabis plant, you may never have to add any nutrients. When it comes to selecting pots to grow cannabis, I recommend the fabric variety with handles. They are a great option for growing cannabis. If you want to use pots that you already have on hand, that works fine, too. Just be sure your pots have some holes in the bottom for drainage. If you use a regular bucket, for example, make sure to drill a few holes in the bottom. The size of pot used to grow cannabis is determined by the stage of growth. You will want a small pot (1 gallon or less) for seedlings, but you can also use a plastic solo cup. When the seedlings have grown and are ready, transplant the plants into larger bags/pots. The larger the pot/bag, the larger the plant. An easy way to tell that they are ready for a bigger pot is when the roots start coming out of the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. I think these three growing methods are the simplest and easiest to use when beginning to grow cannabis. Of course, it’s a personal decision with no clear cut path to success. It is pretty much a trial and error process until you learn a method that works for you. There is no shortage of advice from the Internet or you can consult your local grow supply store. Remember, cannabis is a positive energy force and growing it with joy will increase its yield. Send your questions to HerbageGroMomma.gmail. com

“The most important growing tip is to check your cannabis plants daily.” hydroponic checklist

CoCo Coir checklist

SOIL checklist

Check plants daily.

Air temperature: lights on 750-850 lights off 650-750

Provides ease of soil with rapid growth of hydro

Good quality potting soil free of chemicals

Water temperature: Consistent

Dries out quicker than soil

1 plant per reservoir change water weekly

Three-to-one coco to perlite mixture

Fabric pots with handles best choice Bigger pots for bigger plants - drainage holes in bottom.

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